He was the man who decided that El Hadji Diouf was a wiser investment than Nicolas Anelka. He was the same person who sanctioned an inexplicable £24 million move for Darren Bent. So it comes as no surprise to learn that Gerard Houllier pulled out of signing a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, as the already had Harry Kewell on their books.
''I saw him in the Toulon Under-21 tournament, and we went for him, but we had a wage scale and we weren't paying the sort of salary he wanted. Then Manchester United played a friendly against Sporting Lisbon and all their boys said to Sir Alex Ferguson 'You have to sign him'. But I agreed with not breaking the wage structure. I thought it would cause problems in our dressing room. Maybe we would have won the title with Ronaldo, but we had Harry Kewell.'' - Gerard Houllier, December 2010.
Having said it out loud, hopefully the former French boss will have realised just how silly that final conclusion actually sounded. To make matters worse, the Portuguese starlet had sent the former PSG manager a 'come and get me' plea, claiming that it would be a 'dream for any player to represent a club of such traditions'.
''Liverpool are one of the best clubs in England. I will have to hope that they make an offer that is good for both Sporting and myself. The English league is not one of my favourites, but it is very interesting. Michael Owen is a great player an any youngster would love to be in the same side as him.'' - Cristiano Ronaldo, 2003.
As it happens, both Owen and Ronaldo boast two common denominator destinations on their respective CVs, but neither include the 'dream' of Anfield.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
